Heather Curtis
WMAL.com.
WASHINGTON – A small town in western Loudoun County could be nearly doubling in size. Round Hill has about 600 residents, but that number could jump to more than one thousand if the town council approves an expansion plan.
Mayor Scott Ramsey said expansion has always been part of the county plan, but it has never been acted on. Expansion would allow properties surrounding the town, some of which get town water and are connected to the town sewer system, to become part of the town.
“We’ve heard informally from people over the years, that some of them really want to be brought into town, be part of the decision making. Other people have indicated that no, they don’t ever want to be in town because they don’t want to pay town taxes,” said Ramsey.
He understands both points of view, but the town council believes the expansion would be beneficial for everyone.
People whose properties would be added to the town would have to pay town taxes but would also get the benefit of town services like trash pickup, which some people have to hire private companies for now. New residents would also get the utility rate discount the town offers.
Round Hill would bring in more money because some tax money that now goes to the county would go to the town instead.
Ramsey said the town doesn’t see many drawbacks of expansion, but some individual property owners may not want the town services enough to pay more taxes for them.
There’s no timeline for expansion. Right now the town council is starting to do formal public outreach. If the outreach goes well, Ramsey said they may expand in the next year, but it would only be a partial expansion.
The first of two public information sessions is Aug. 3.
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